Government Approved Draft of Estonia-Russia Border Treaty

27.05.2013

No 173-E

During its session today, the government approved the draft of the Estonia-Russia border treaty and the draft of the treaty on the Narva and Gulf of Finland sea areas, which will be used exclusively to regulate border-related issues. The government approved the treaties based on the principle of legal continuity found in the constitution.

The government also based its decision on the position of the legal chancellor, who said that the principle of legal continuity found in Estonia’s constitution is protected. On 14 May the Riigikogu foreign affairs committee also expressed its support for the treaties.

In contrast to the treaties signed in 2005, the new treaties contain a sentence that the treaty exclusively regulates matters related to the national border and confirms that neither side has any territorial claims.

The treaties will be signed by the foreign minister, after which the treaties must be ratified by the Estonian and Russian parliaments. The treaties will come into force 30 days after the letters of ratification have been exchanged.

In October 2012 the Riigikogu foreign affairs committee along with representatives of all the factions in Riigkogu made a proposal to the government to begin consultations with Russia to achieve a border treaty that would satisfy all parties. On 14 October that same year, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov decided during a meeting in Luxembourg to begin consultations, with the goal of finding a way to implement a border treaty.

Estonia was represented at the consultations by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs Lauri Bambus and Estonian Ambassador to Moscow Jüri Luik. The Russian delegation was headed by First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Titov and director of the 2nd department for Europe Viktor Tatarintsev.